Health Information
Your Thyroid and Your Mood
The association of thyroid dysfunction with alterations in mood and cognition has been recognised since some of the earliest descriptions of thyroid disease.
More recently, attention has turned towards examining the impact of differences in thyroid hormones within the normal reference range, particularly in older adults, providing new insights into the association of thyroid hormone with cognitive decline.
Underactive Thyroid not helped by Seaweed
Many people start to take seaweed as part of their diet if they become concerned about developing an underactive thyroid. This is because an underactive thyroid can develop if you do not have enough iodine in your diet.
Underactive thyroid
The mineral iodine is critical to healthy thyroid function. A lack of it can cause low energy, weight gain, depression, muscle pain, coldness, constipation, heart disease, cognitive decline, and a variety of cancers. And for unborn babies, a lack of iodine in their mothers can lead to poor mental abilities, cretinism and autism.
Thyroid, Iodine and Seagreens®
We need iodine to maintain a healthy thyroid, yet more than half the UK population has iodine insufficiency. This leads to a range of health problems, commonly put down to 'middle-age'. One of the best natural sources is seaweed, especially if it follows Seagreens® processing standards to retain the highest levels of nutrients.
Seaweed iodine case study
A case study for seaweed iodine.
Seaweed and levothyroxine
Taking Napiers Seagreens Organic Hebridean Kelp alongside Levothyroxine.
Herbs for an Overactive Thyroid
For hyperthyroidism the herbs most commonly used are Bugleweed (Lycopus virginiana) combined with Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Lemon balm makes a lovely tasting tea.
Both of these herbs, as well as Club Moss (Lithospermum officinale) inhibit thyroid-stimulating hormone binding. Motherwort helps to relieve heart palpitations and anxiety, hawthorn helps to regulate blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Lemon balm also helps to relieve anxiety, as does Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) which is sometimes combined with Bugleweed in hyperthyroid prescriptions.
Food Sources of Iodine
We all need iodine to keep our thyroid (the body's central chemistry controller) healthy. So where does iodine come from and what foods are best for getting enough iodine?